best survival folder

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dragonram7

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Dec 14, 2006
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I'm looking for your opinion:
As part of a residency for graduate school, we are headed up into the mountains. After signing all the AD&D waivers, we are allowed to bring one folding knife. No lodges, no cell phone coverage, no Leathermans, no guns, no fixed blades. Animals: bear, mountain lions, wolves, coyote, fox, etc. What is the FOLDER YOU would take and why? I'll be up in the Uintas for a week.
 
Since it's your only tool I'd go for something fairly heavy duty like a ZT (560) in case you have to use it for anything that might go beyond what you would normally expect from a folding knife. A knife like that can be used for fire/shelter craft if you're sensible and patient. I baton a fold sideways through a 4"+ log with no damage just have the lock disengaged and take your time, don't hit the knife too hard. Of course if you're not doing that type of thing and it's more for general utility/hunting then there's no need for such an overbuilt knife.
 
Anything with decent stainless steel and a solid lock would serve quite well. Personally, I'd grab my Benchmade Griptilian. A cold steel folder with a TriAd lock would hold up to any wilderness abuse quite well, too. They also have their Pocket Bushman, which is basically a fixed blade until you unlock it. That thing has got to be the strongest lock out there, short of maybe the French Wildsteer version of the folding fixed blade.

Edit: To add the "Why?" part,

If you only have one knife with you, you're probably gonna use it for food at some point - you don't want to eat rust residue, so go for stainless.

You want it to be a rugged, tough knife that is still usable for normal camp chores. Things like a Benchmade Griptilian or a Coldsteel AK47/American Lawman would handle normal tasks with flying colors, and are still tough enough to survive more abusive tasks if the need arises.
 
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Svord Peasant Knife, it's basically semi fixed blade and real resilient steel, no lock to fail.

It'll rust easily though but I don't mind. Cleaned mine up with toothpaste last night after a bout of rust.
 
Unless your go into the wilderness with just a knife and a canteen type of deal I just go with a lightweight knife to open things up and cut things. Taking down a bear with a folder isn't on my to do list personally and quite honestly at that point your screwed if your thinking what kind of knife you should bring to a bear fight (extreme example but you get the picture when it comes to the animals).

I would take either my Ka-bar dozier folding hunter as it's pretty lightweight for a 3in blade with a good grip and jimping. Or my Victorinox Huntsman II as it has 2 blades in case I dull one, can/bottle opener, saw, toothpick, tweezers and some more tools most of which will probably get some work. And lets be honest I have never seen a SAK with rust in my life, and they seem to be gluttens for punishment. The Victorinox Farmer would be pretty high on my list as well if I didn't already have the Huntsman II.
 
Very very easy choice... forget frame locks and liners for heavy wilderness use. Axis is what you want.

Benchmade Adamas. Good luck trying to fail this knife, won't happen. Not in this lifetime anyway. ..
 
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I have a Cold Steel Recon 1 with the triad lock. I have a Cold Steel pocket Bushman. Pretty strong lock designs.


I would rather have the XL version of the Recon 1 just for the fact that it is flat ground.

How much time do you have to line up your gear?

What is your budget.
 
Old school Gerber Parabellum. About as close to fixed blade as a folder can be.
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I second the Victorinox Farmer. You have an excellent main blade and the saw. The other tools are also useful. The Hiker has even more. If I was to go into the wilderness right now, I'd take the Hunter XT and not worry.
 
I assumed SAKs were out with leathermans, just FYI I Casey a camper, like the farmer but not.

Still look up the Peasant, give it a thought, also it's virtually weightless, large looking at 1st bc of the handle but if u get the polypropylene, slip it in your pocket and you forget it's there, it also surprised me in my waistband earlier, forgot it was there.

Steel takes a flex well, bends and snaps back straight.
 
What knives do you have access to? I've spent a fair amount of time in the woods using knives and practicing my survival skills so I can survive stuff should I ever need to survive. I generally carry a midsize fixed blade and a paramilitary 2. The p2 sees more use, but the fixed blade is indespensable as a tool. If I was in you're predicament, and could only bring a folder, and had my choice of all the folders in the world, I'd pick the one that straddled the line between strength an cutting ability. I'd probably pic something along the lines of a hinderer, but if you dont own one I'm guessing you won't want to she'll out $600+ for a folder just for this trip. I you have a simar knife, great, use it. If not and you plan to purchase something, the Adamas and anything in the ZT lineup would be great choices for under or around $150
 
I think people overstate the significance of a super-strong lock. Firstly you shouldn't need to abuse your blade if you're sensible and patient. Also if for some reason you do have to beat on the spine (batoning for example), just make sure the lock is disengaged whilst you do it so no force is transferred to the lock. The real question is why you would take a folder into a wilderness situation anyway.
 
If I would be restricted to the knives I already own, then I would probably take the Buck 112 with me. If SAKs were allowed, I'd take the Huntsman or Farmer with me. Probably the Huntsman, since scissors are a really handy tool.
 
If you are actually going to do a lot of hard cutting then you want a knife wth a strong lock and a large pivot to withstand torque, so I also would probably go with the Adamas. Although the Svord knives are great for the price I would not want to do extensive bushcraft with a friction folder.
 
I think it'd be nice to have something you could bond with and be able to use on a daily basis after the trip, so another vote for Victorinox Farmer(blade, saw, awl for firesteel, can opener)

If you look for something a little more 'secure' and beefy, then a one-hand-open Victorinox Trekker with plain blade, again all very useful tools for outdoor, perfect backup blade for carrying a outdoor fixed blade.

Finally, if it has to be pure blade and nothing else, maybe a Doug Ritter S30V Griptillian? Back of the blade can't really strike a ferro rod, but if needed, using the tip of blade can do just fine.


I agree with what said above, don't expect to be able to baton folders(especially on hardwood) and hoping they will do fine; I've tried in the past, and within an hour or so, even with great care, a sturdy Axis lock will develop play and could fail any time.
 
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